COMMUNITY DRIVEN ACTION

Napa and Sonoma Counties are only an hour north of San Francisco, but they are world's apart in terms of visibility and community for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people in those communities. To address the glaring lack of resources and inclusion, LGBTQ Connection was born in the Spring of 2011.

LGBTQ Connection, an initiative fueled by youth and other emerging leadership, fosters a healthier, more vibrantly diverse and inclusive community. Each year, LGBTQ Connection engages 3,500 LGBTQ people, their families and community, and trains 500 providers from local organizations across Northern California to increase the safety, visibility and well being of LGBTQ residents. In Napa and Sonoma Counties the program operates local LGBTQ community centers, supporting underserved LGBTQ youth and elders. The Napa and Sonoma offices of LGBTQ Connection each provide a safe and trusted space to cultivate hubs of vibrant activities and caring community.

COMMUNITY DRIVEN ACTION

Napa and Sonoma Counties are only an hour north of San Francisco, but they are world's apart in terms of visibility and community for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people in those communities. To address the glaring lack of resources and inclusion, LGBTQ Connection was born in the Spring of 2011.

LGBTQ Connection, an initiative fueled by youth and other emerging leadership, fosters a healthier, more vibrantly diverse and inclusive community. Each year, LGBTQ Connection engages 3,500 LGBTQ people, their families and community, and trains 500 providers from local organizations across Northern California to increase the safety, visibility and well being of LGBTQ residents. In Napa and Sonoma Counties the program operates local LGBTQ community centers, supporting underserved LGBTQ youth and elders. The Napa and Sonoma offices of LGBTQ Connection each provide a safe and trusted space to cultivate hubs of vibrant activities and caring community.

About us

What was born as a support group for LGBTQ youth at the VOICES youth center in Napa in early spring 2010, has grown into a comprehensive, multi-county initiative fostering healthy, diverse and inclusive communities, driven by youth and other emerging leaders in the rural and suburban north SF bay area. As both a hub of LGBTQ information and a thriving center of the community, LGBTQ Connection increases awareness and visibility.

Learn more about the heart and soul of what guides LGBTQ Connection's tireless work...

We are offering our very first LGBTQ training in Spanish "LGBTQ en Español" to better serve our Spanish-speaking young people and their families. This is one part of LGBTQ Connection's new Latino LGBTQI Youth inclusion project funded by Horizons Foundation and Community Foundation Sonoma County's LGBTQI Giving Circle. Presently, our North Bay communities in Napa and Sonoma have essentially ZERO LGBTQ resources specific to Spanish speakers. Let's change that; Our young people deserve better.

“I hear from kids all the time that this program literally saved their life,” said program coordinator Eliseo Rivas, who has developed LGBTQ Connection’s program in other cities. “The amount of isolation and rejection is enormous. Even though Sonoma is only an hour outside of San Francisco, it doesn’t mean it’s a welcoming place for LGBTQ people.”

Our Programs

LGBTQ Connection is developing community driven movements built by emerging leaders in multiple rural and suburban communities in the north San Francisco Bay Area. See below for specific offerings in each county.

Our Programs

LGBTQ Connection is developing community driven movements built by emerging leaders in multiple rural and suburban communities in the north San Francisco Bay Area. See below for specific offerings in each county.

Napa county

Get to know us in your local community: connect to Napa & Calistoga site info, activities, calendars, and social media.

LGBTQ Connection is a program of On The Move, a 501(c)(3) that partners with communities and mobilizes emerging leaders to take action in pursuit of social equity. Visit www.onthemovebayarea.org to learn more.